Bennie Lee Cunningham, Jr., the first son of Carol SouthSouth CarolinaCarolina and Bennie L. Cunningham, Sr., was born in african Bennie Lee Laurens, South Carolina. Following opportunities early in their careers, his parents moved the family american to Spartanburg, Gaffney, Chesterfield, and finally historyhistory calendarcalendar Cunningham, Seneca. The of the National Football Jr. Cunningham participated in football, baseball, League selected Bennie Cunningham in the first and track at Seneca High School. In 1971, he was round of the NFL draft after his senior season. He selected as a high school All-American in football. played ten years for the Steelers and was a member of two World Championship Teams, performing Cunningham continued his academic and athletic in XIII and Super Bowl XIV. career by attending Clemson University on a foot- ball scholarship. During his four-year tenure, he One of the most memorable moments for Bennie received numerous awards—foremost, the selec- and many Pittsburgh fans came in a football game tion as a consensus All-American after his junior against the Cleveland Browns during the ’78 year. He was the first African American from season. In overtime, Bennie scored the winning Clemson University to receive the honor. touchdown on a 40-yard flea-flicker pass from . After his senior season, he was a repeat selection to several All-American teams. Additionally, he This play was selected as one of ten Fantastic was two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference (’74 Finish plays of the 1970s, and it is on video dis- and ’75) and was selected as a member of the play in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. All-Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Team, East-West Shrine Bowl Team, Hula Bowl Cunningham retired from professional football as Team., Japan Bowl Team, Kodak All-American the Steelers seventh all-time leading receiver and Team, Playboy All-American Team and the All- is the all-time reception leader among tight ends South Team selected by Southern Living Magazine. for the Steelers, having totaled 200 catches and 20 Athlete touchdowns in his career. He was named to the Cunningham was also the first African American Steelers 50th Anniversary team. to receive the prestigious “Frank Howard Award for Bringing Excellence to Clemson University.” Currently, he is a career counselor at West-Oak Personally, Bennie says his “proudest collegiate High School in Westminster, South Carolina. honor” was earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University. Later, he received a Master of Human Resources Development degree from Clemson.

South Carolina african american 2005 history calendar December SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Rosa Parks refused to give up her Historian Charles Wesley was born First issue of North Star seat on a public bus in 1955. in 1891. newspaper published in 1847.

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American Anti-Slavery Society Mary McLeod Bethune, educator, In 1971 Lewis Franklin Powell Lester Granger was named Entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. was Entertainer Redd Foxx was born Ralph J. Bunche becomes the organized in 1833. founded National Council of Negro was confi rmed as Supreme Court executive director of the National born in 1925. in 1925. fi rst Black person awarded a Women, 1935. justice. Urban League in 1941. Nobel Peace Prize, 1950.

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P.B.S. Pinchback became the Joseph H. Rainey (S.C.) fi rst African First Black women complete offi cer Congressman John Langston was Maggie Lena Walker, banker, died Andrew Young of Georgia named Noble Sissle, lyricist and fi rst African American governor American elected to Congress training for the WAVEs, 1944. born in 1829. in 1934. ambassador and chief delegate to bandleader, died in 1975. of an American state, Louisiana, in 1870. the United Nations in 1976. in 1872.

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The 13th Amendment was Carter G. Woodson, historian, born South Carolina seceded from the Motown Records established in Historian and author of Alice H. Parker patented the gas Irwin C. Mollison, fi rst African ratifi ed in 1865. in 1875. Union in 1860. 1959 by Berry Gordy, Jr. Destruction of Black Civilization heating furnace in 1919. American judge of the Customs Dr. Chancellor Williams was born Court was born in 1898. in 1898.

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Christmas Day In 1924, DeFord Bailey, Sr., Pioneer of blood plasma research, Earl “Fatha” Hines, famed jazz Thomas Bradley was born in Blues composer and singer Bo New Year’s Eve became the fi rst African American Dr. Charles Richard Drew, musician and father of modern jazz 1917. Diddley was born in 1928. In 1971 Rev. Jesse Jackson to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. established a blood bank in New piano, was born in 1905. Odetta Felious Gordon, the folk organized Operation PUSH York City, 1941. singer and activist known as (People United to Save “Odetta,” was born in 1930. Humanity). 25 26 27 28 29 30 31